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Bird Names in Venda

(Tshivenḓa)
Johan Meyer

2021, The Lark

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Bird Names in Venda (Tshiven ḓa) Afer this database was con-
Johan Meyer structed, the loan words rom En-
E-mail: meyer.ij@gmail.com glish and Arikaans, the names o
domesticated birds or birds not
ound in the Venda speaking areas
name and name in English, can be
ound in able 2.
Te total number o entries
was 575. O these entries, 12 were o
unidentified birds. Although the to-

V
enda, or shivenḓa, is
one o South Arica’s
11 official languages. It
is spoken by about 1.2 million peo-
ple in the northern part o Limpo-
po Province, mainly in the Vhembe
District. However, about 23% o the
Venda speakers live in Gauteng. It
has the second smallest number o
speakers o all the official languages
o South Arica, at just 2.4% o the
population.
Venda is a southern Bantu lan-
guage with its closest relative being
Kalanga spoken in Zimbabwe. A
small number o people in Zimba-
bwe also speak Venda.
Venda bird names have not
been recorded in any bird book.
Tis study aimed to record bird
names in Venda as ound in various
sources.
Methods
Te sources used were mainly dic-
tionaries, as well as personal notes
o Diether Giesekke. ogether with
his wie, he started the first second-
ary school as well as the eacher
raining College in Venda, where
he served rom 1942 to 1964. A-
ter that, he did missionary work at
names o the birds he saw in Ven-
da. His notebooks are now part o
the Archives o the Berlin Mission
(Hesse Collection o German A-
ricana) at the UNISA Library Ar-
chives. I consulted his notebooks at
the archives.
A ull list o the sources used
can be ound in the reerence list at
the end o the article.
A database was created rom
the inormation ound during the
literature research. All the names
ound were entered into the data-
base. With each entry, the ollowing
was recorded:
1. Te name in the specific lan-
guage
2. Te name in the language
ound in the source (mainly En-
glish or Arikaans)
3. Te source name
4. Te amily o birds to which
the name belongs
5. Te scientific name i it was
ound in the source.
Te total number o entries re-
ers to the actual number o names
in the database. A name can be re-
peated several times in the database
rom different sources, and each
time it will be counted as an indi-
were removed rom the database.
Te remaining names in the data-
base were then analysed and sorted
into three categories, namely:
1. A name used or only one spe-
cies, i.e. species-specific name
2. A general name #THreats
used or more
than one species in the same am-
ily
3. A general name used or more
than one species in different,
sometimes unrelated, amilies
Te final database was then
analysed to determine the number
o entries, the number o unique
entries and the percentage that the
unique names represent o the total
number o entries or each category.
Results and Discussion
A summary o the analyses o the
names is presented in able 1. A list
o the species-specific names ound,
together with the bird's scientific
Table 1. A summary of the results of the analysis of bird names in Venda.
Category
Only 1 species (species-speciic name)
General name for >1 species, same family
tal number o entries is high, there
was considerable repetition in the
data entries, and only 187 unique
entries were ound. O the unique
entries, 23 (12.3%) were general
names or more than one species
in different amilies. Tese birds
typically look the same although
they are not related. An example is
Begwa, which is used or both hawk
and alcon. Another interesting ex-
ample is Tamba-madi, used or
both swallows and swifs (similar
looking species) and bee-eaters.
Te number o general names
or more than one species in the
same amily was 60 (32.1%) o the
total number o unique entries. Te
number o names used or only one
species (i.e. a species-specific name)
was 104 (55.6%), which is more
than hal o the unique names.
Birds representing 44 amilies
have Venda names. Te majority o
N u m b e r N u m b e r % out of
of entries of unique unique
entries entries
260 104 55.6
178 60 32.1

the shakhuma Mission Station. He vidual entry. Te number o names General name for >1 species, different families 125 23 12.3

was a birdwatcher and, i there was a thereore, does not equal the num- thern
Name of unidentiied
-Sou WhiteciestedHelmetshrike
birds
®DeickEngelbrecht
12

Venda name or a bird, he noted the ber o bird species. Total data entries 575 187

53 The Lark 34 The Lark 34 54

©Din

these birds (59%) are non-passer- References

ines, the balance made up by the Department o Arts and Culture. 2013.
passerines. Multilingual Natural Sciences and ech-
It is mainly the larger species or nology erm List or Grade 4 to 6: En-
species o cultural or economic value glish - Arikaans – shivenḓa – Xitson-
which have Venda names. Examples ga. Department o Arts and Culture.
include the Common Ostrich, Hel- Gautschi JR. 2010. Hello South Arica
meted and Crested Guineaowl and Phrasebook: 11 Official Languages. Jo-
doves. Interestingly, passerines like hannesburg: Hello South Arica Pub- ater
B ee eater
ru - European Bee-e
kweru
Kweru
Kwer ukwe
ht
the Southern Boubou had various lishing. © Dere Engellbrec
k Enge
D erek brech
names. Giesekke DW 2020. [Personal Notes].
wo species, the Pin-tailed Archives o the Berlin Mission (Hesse
Whydah and the Yellow-crowned Collection o German Aricana), UNI-
Bishop, have different names or the SA Library Archives, UNISA, South A-
sexes. Tis may be due to the strik- rica.
ing difference between the males' Hiles L, Netshitomboni L 2008. Oxord
breeding plumage and the plumage First Bilingual Dictionary: shivenḓa +
o the emales. However, this was not English. Cape own: Oxord University
recorded or all sexually dimorphic Press.
species. Murphy ML 1997. Venda Dictionary.
http://www.cbold.ddl.ishlyon.cnrs.r/
Conclusion CBOLD. Lexicons/Venda [Accessed 05
Although there are many bird names May 2020].
in Venda, the use o their names Scharning K 2020. Birds on Stamps. Re-
should be encouraged in publica- trieved 31/12/2020 rom http://www.
tions. Fieldwork should be conducted birdtheme.org/country/venda.html.
to trace more names, especially or shikota SL (ed) 2015. Te Official
those birds ound in Venda that do shivenḓa - English Dictionary. Preto-
not have a recorded name yet. De- ria: shivenda National Lexicography
scriptive parts, like adjectives, need Unit.
to be added to the available names shikota SL (ed). 2018. Picture Dictio-
to make them species-specific. Once nary: English - shivenda Gr R - 3. Pre-
this is done, it will greatly acilitate the toria: shivenda National Lexicography
promotion o birdwatching and bird Unit.
conservation among Venda-speakers. Uknown author 2014. South Arican
Multilingual Dictionary. Cape own:
Acknowledgements - I wish to thank the staff Pharos.
at the UNISA Library Archives or their as- Van Warmelo NJ. 1989. Venda Dictio-
sistance with the research. nary: shivenda - English. Pretoria: JL
llow-cro wned
-crow ned Bishop
ishop
van Schai k. Ma
M tund
atun e - Ye
de Yellow
© Dere
D erek brecht
k Engellbrech
55 The Lark 34 The Lark 34 56

Bird names in Tshivenḓa Bird names in Tshivenḓa

Family Scientific name English Tshivenḓa Family Scientific name English Tshivenḓa
Struthionidae Struthio camelus Com mon Ostri ch Mphwe, Nkhwe, Clamator levaillantii Levaillant’s Cuckoo Ṱhaṱhamulubi
Phou Cuculus solitarius Red-chested Cuckoo Mamvulela,
Numididae Numida meleagris Helmeted Guineafowl Khanga Ṅwamvulela,
Numida pucherani Crested Guineafowl Khangamusimbiri, Nyamvulela, Wam-
Khangathavha vulela
Phasianidae Ortygornis sephaena Crested Franc oli n Ṱhadzi a Strigidae Bubo lacteus Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl Gwithathavha
Ptilopsis granti Southern White-faced Owl Tshikitwamwonḓo
Anatidae Alopochen aegyptiaca Egyptian Goose Ḽigaakaa
Strix woodfordii African Wood Owl Tshikitwaṅombe
Ciconiidae Leptoptilos crumeniferus Marabou Stork Dumbulazhou
Tytonidae Tyto alba Western Barn Owl Tshikwitha-mpembe
Threskiornithidae Bostrychia hagedash Hadada Ibis Ḽinaanaa
Caprimulgidae Caprimulgis pectoralis Fiery-necked Nightjar Lukombambudzi
Scopidae Scopus umbretta Hamerkop Khondo, Mai -
la-u-sumbwa, Coliidae Colius striatus Speckled Mousebird Ṱhonzhe
Tshiruxwe Urocolius indicus Red-faced Mousebird Tswiavhavha
Ardeidae Bubulcus ibis Western Cattle Egret Mulisa, Meropidae Merops apiaster European Bee-eater Kwerukweru
Muṱwa-na-vhalisa
Upupidae Upupa africana African Hoopoe Khororo
Sagittariidae Sagittarius serpentarius Secretarybird Ṱhame
Bucerotidae Bycanistes bucinator Trumpeter Hornbill Ḽilidzavhana
Accipitridae Gyps coprotheres Cape Vulture Ḓanga
Lophoceros alboterminatus Crowned Hornbi ll Mugot we
Haliaeetus vocifer Afri can Fi sh Eagle Khuwadzi
Bucorvus leadbeateri Southern Ground Hornbill Dandila
Lophaetus occipitalis Long-crested Eagle Ḽilaulane, Tshilau -
lane, Tshilaule Lybiidae Lybius torquatus Black-collared Barbet Tshihwaa

Terathopius ecaudatus Bateleur Nnzu Indicatoridae Indicator indicator Greater Honeyguide Ṱhaḓu
Sarothruridae Sarothrura elegans Buff-spotted Flufftail Marubini Prionopidae Prionops plumatus White-crested Helmetshrike Ḽigaraba

Gruidae Grus paradisea Blue Crane Ḽimilaṋowa Malaconotidae Laniarius ferrugineus Southern Boubou Bwimbwili,
Gwingwili, Mamb-
Scolopacidae Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper Murorwane wili, Mangwili,
Columbidae Streptopelia capicola Ring-necked Dove Phokhole, Tsha-gombo
Tshiivhampembe Laniidae Lanius collaris Southern Fiscal Dzhuga
Streptopelia semitorquata Red-eyed Dove Khopola Tchagra senegalus Black-crowned Tchagra Mugubane
Treron calvus African Green Pigeon Khuṱhu Oriolidae Oriolus larvatus Black-headed Oriole Khunweu, Mu -
Turtur chalcospilos Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Tshiivapfure guḓou
Musophagidae Corythaixoides concolor Grey Go-away-bird Mukuwe Monarchidae Terpsiphone viridis African Paradise Flycatcher Dzwee, Ludzwee,
Nyadzwee
Tauraco corythaix Knysna Turaco Khurukhurutavha
Corvidae Corvus albus Pied Crow Tshihunguvhufa
Tauraco porphyreolophus Purple-crested Turaco Khurukhuru
Pycnonotidae Phyllastreus terrestris Terrestrial Brownbul Gorokoro
Cuculidae Centropus cupreicaudus Burchell’s Coucal Bwi bwi
Pycnonotos tricolor Dark-capped Bulbul Gwede, Tshigwede
Chrysococcyx caprius D iederi k Cuckoo Mutovholwa

57 The Lark 34 The Lark 34 58

An African Pygmy Kingfisher biting off more than it

Bird names in Tshivenḓa could chew
Family Scientific name English Tshivenḓa Derek Engelbrecht
Cisticolidae Apalis thoracica Bar-throated Apalis Lunegule, E-mail: faunagalore@gmail.com
Lutiitii, Negule,
Twetwetwe
Prinia subflava Tawny-lanked Prinia Damukulu, Lu-

Leiothrichidae Turdoides jardineii
Zosteropidae Zosterops virens
Turdidae Turdus libonyanus
Muscicapidae Cossypha caffra
Erythropygia quadrivirgata
Passeridae Passer domesticus
Passer melanurus
Ploceidae Amblyospiza albifrons
Euplectens ardens
Euplectes afer
Euplectes progne
Ploceus cucullatus
Ploceus intermedius
Ploceus ocularis
Quelea quelea
Estrildidae Estrilda perreini
Uraeginthus angolensis
Viduidae Vidua macroura
Motacillidae Motacilla capensis
Fringillidae Crithagra mozambica
I
dimukulu, experienced what is best and also 'captured' part of the twig
Tshidamukulu described as a typical Chris the gecko was sitting on. It appears
Arrow-marked Babbler Zhokozha Patton 'Bloody Hell' mo- as if it captured the gecko but then
Cape White-eye Lulangane ment on 12 February 2021. While impaled the twig with its beak, but
Kurrichane Thrush Mudodoma, photographing honeyguides at was battling to dislodge the twig
Ngwinzhi their feeder in my garden, my atten- and still keep a hold of its prey. Tis
Cape Robin-Chat Luhorwe tion was distracted by what at first is what caused the odd flying pat-
Bearded Scrub Robin Tshelevhete appeared to be a reddish-brown tern that first caught my eye.
moth flying and landing near the
House Sparrow Mat handaphal ishi
feeder. Te 'moth' turned out to
Cape Sparrow Lupuṱula, be a juvenile African Pygmy King- B"#$% African Pygmy Kingfishers are
Malegeni uncommon around Polokwane, so hav-
fisher with something in its beak. ing one in the garden is a real treat. Teir
Thick-billed Weaver Tswirigonde A closer inspection revealed it had main prey items are invertebrates and
Red-collared Widowbird Sisibundu caught a Cape Dwarf Gecko. How- they only rarely catch vertebrates, so hav-
ing witnessed a kill in my backyard made
Yellow-crowned Bishop Ṱhongola, ever, it somehow misjudged its prey it a doubly special sighting.
Matunde (for
male)
Long-tailed Widowbird Munuge
Vi llage Weaver Mat haha, Taha
Lesser Masked Weaver Dzhere
Spectacled Weaver Phaṱhela
Red-bi lled Quelea Ndiane
Grey Waxbill Nṱimba
Blue Waxbill Luṱikizimba,
Luṱimba
Pin-tailed Whydah Ṱhongolalukole,
Nyamudade (for
male)
Cape Wagtail Mantekuteku
Yellow-fronted Canary Ludahambanzhe

59 The Lark 34 The Lark 34 60

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